USA Banner
  U.S. flag
              An official website of the United States government Here's how you knowOfficial US Government Icon
              **Official websites use .gov**A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
            Secure Site Icon
              **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                  A **lock** ( A locked padlock ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. 
 U.S. Department of Transportation Icon United States Department of Transportation
 Search DOT
            Search
                        About FRAAbout FRA
  

        
              Overview
                Organization
                Program Offices
                Resource Center
                Web Policies and Notices
                Contact Us
                Communications
                Governmental AffairsFeatured
  

        
              Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Information from FRA
                Careers
                Leadership Profiles
                Organizational Chart
                Newsroom
                Press Releases
                Speeches
                Fact Sheets
                TestimonyRailroad SafetyFeatured
  

        
              Train Horn Rule/Quiet Zones
                Public Blocked Crossings Incident Reporter
                Drug & Alcohol
                Safety Data
                C3RS
                High-Hazard Flammable Train Route AssessmentRailroad Safety
  

        
              Overview
                Railroad Crossing Safety & Trespass Prevention
                Accident Data & Reporting, Investigations
                Divisions
                Partnerships & ProgramsRail Network DevelopmentFeatured
  

        
              High-Speed Rail
                Amtrak
                Environmental Reviews
                GIS Maps
                RuralRail Network Development
  

        
              Overview
                Passenger Rail
                Freight Rail
                Environment
                Planning
                International
                Maps & Data
                Training & GuidanceResearch & DevelopmentFeatured
  

        
              R&D Current Projects
                Positive Train Control
                Hazardous Materials
                Highway-Rail Grade Crossing
                Close Call Reporting
                Broad Agency AnnouncementResearch & Development
  

        
              Overview
                Program Areas
                R&D ReportsLegislation & RegulationsFeatured
  

        
              FAST Act
                National Rail Plan
                Proposed State Rail Plan
                Civil PenaltiesLegislation & Regulations
  

        
              Overview
                Legislation
                Regulations & Rulemaking
                Buy AmericaGrants & LoansFeatured
  

        
              FRA Discretionary Grant Program Tool
                Discretionary Grant Calendar
                Railroad Capital Project Guidance
                FRA Webinars
                DOT GrantsGrants & Loans
  

        
              Overview
                Grant Programs
                Applying for Grants
                Resources for Grant Recipients
                Training & GuidanceFRA eLibraryeLibrary
  

        
              Accidents & Fatalities
                Compliance
                Conferences & Presentations
                Emergency & Safety
                Enforcement & Litigation
                Publications & Policy
                Reports
                OtherMenu Home
                        Rail Network Development


            
            In This Section
        Rail Network Development Overview
                Passenger Rail
                Freight Rail
                                Overview
                Labor and Employment
                Environment
                Planning
                                Project Planning
                Systems Planning
                Rural
                International
                Maps and Data
                Training & Guidance
      
   Related Links
          Blocked Crossing Incident Reporter
                                                        Maps – Geographic Information System
                                                        2019 Pocket Guide to Transportation
                                                        Railroad Crossing Safety & Trespass Prevention
                                                        FRA Grants & Loans
                                                        International Programs
                
                Freight Rail Overview
    

    
    
    
      Freight Rail Infographic





The Freight Rail Network

Running on almost 140,000 route miles, the U.S. freight rail network is widely considered the largest, safest, and most cost-efficient freight system in the world. [1] The nearly $80-billion freight rail industry is operated by seven Class I railroads [2] (railroads with operating revenues of $490 million or more) [3] and 22 regional and 584 local/short line railroads. [4] It provides more than 167,000 jobs [5] across the United States and offers ancillary benefits that other modes of transportation cannot, including reductions in road congestion, highway fatalities, fuel consumption, greenhouse gases, cost of logistics, and public infrastructure maintenance costs.

Unlike roadways, U.S. freight railroads are owned by private organizations who are responsible for their own maintenance and improvement projects. Compared with other major modes of transportation, railroad owners invest one of the highest percentages of revenues (19 percent) to maintain and add capacity to their system, spending nearly $25 billion annually. [6]



*[1] See Railway Technology, “The world’s 10 longest railway networks,” February 2014; Association of American Railroads, “Overview of America’s Freight Railroads,” March 2020.
[2] The seven Class I freight railroads are: BNSF Railway Co., Canadian National Railway (Grand Trunk Corporation), Canadian Pacific (Soo Line Corporation), CSX Transportation, Kansas City Southern Railway Co., Norfolk Southern Combined Railroad Subsidiaries, and Union Pacific Railroad Co. The combined revenue of Class I railroads equaled $67 billion in 2017.
[3] Association of American Railroads, “Overview of America’s Freight Railroads,” March 2020.
[4] Association of American Railroads,*Railroad Facts, 2019 Edition*, 3.
[5]*Railroad Facts, 2019 Edition*, 3.
[6] Association of American Railroads, “Freight Railroad Capacity and Investment,” March 2020.*

            Expand All
      Collapse All
        **How, What, and Where Freight Moves**
        Freight is moved by rail, waterways, pipeline, truck, and air throughout the United States. *Freight Moves pie chart*Rail has an advantage in moving heavy freight over long distances efficiently, as do waterways and pipeline services. Trucks provide time-sensitive delivery services for more high-value goods being transported over medium- and short-haul distances.

Heavy freight such as coal, lumber, ore, and heavy freight going long distances are likely to travel by rail, or some combination of truck, rail, and water. The rail network accounted for approximately 28 percent of U.S. freight movement by ton-miles (the length and weight freight travels). [7] The Waybill Sample map shows U.S. rail routes by tonnage of commodities they carry.



*[7] U.S. Department of Transportation,* 2019 Pocket Guide to Transportation*, 19.*STB 2018 Public Map



Rail is a cost-effective and efficient way to move almost any freight in the United States, which benefits both producers and consumers. Each American requires the movement of approximately 54 tons of freight per year. Goods people use or components of the goods people use are largely shipped by rail. [8]

Freight Rail Commodities percentages

In all, 52 percent of rail freight car loads consist of bulk commodities such as agriculture and energy products, automobiles and components, construction materials, chemicals, equipment, food, metals, minerals, paper, and pulp. The remaining 48 percent is intermodal traffic that generally consists of consumer goods and other miscellaneous products. [9] Intermodal traffic is made up of shipping containers of all types of goods that can be transferred easily from rail to truck, plane, or other vessel, and vice versa.

U.S. rail freight moves on a variety of cars, depending on the goods being transported—from refrigerated cars for shipping perishables to flatbed cars for aircraft or automobile parts to intermodal shipping containers. Modern freight trains average roughly 73 cars (but top train length is 200 cars and growing), whereas the average freight train length in 1929 was 48 cars. [10]

Goods in the United States move predominantly to and from ports, manufacturing hubs, and areas of specific economic activity, from rural areas for agriculture and energy products to population centers or outlying regions where power plants and large manufacturing facilities are located.

Freight rail participates in achieving national export goals and facilitating the safe and efficient importation of goods via both the East and West Coasts and to and from Mexico and Canada. (See U.S. Rail-Carried Trade with Canada and Mexico for additional information on the volumes and values of commodities that flow between North American countries and the most important freight gateways along the borders.)



*[8] Association of American Railroads, “Freight Rail: Making Modern Life Possible for Consumers,” March 2018.
[9] Association of American Railroads,*Railroad Facts, 2019 Edition*, 27 (Class 1 railroads only).
[10] Association of American Railroads,*Railroad Facts, 2019 Edition*, 38.*
  


      **Fuel Efficiency**
        Because of technological advancement and innovation, rail continues to be unrivaled by other modes for fuel efficiency. Trains are four times more efficient than trucks, moving one ton of freight 470 miles on just a single gallon of diesel fuel. [11] Rail’s lower fuel consumption also leads to lower carbon emissions overall. Despite handling a third of all intercity freight volume, rail accounts for 2.0% of all transportation-related emissions. [12]



*[11] Association of American Railroads, “Freight Railroads Embrace Sustainability & Environmental Preservation," February 2019.
[12] Environmental Protection Agency, “Fast Facts: U.S. Transportation Sector Greenhouse Gas Emissions 1990–2017,” June 2019, 1.*
  


      **The Future**
        Population and demographic trends pose an enormous challenge for U.S. transportation infrastructure and operators. Forecasts suggest that the United States is becoming more urbanized, and urbanized areas will increasingly converge into larger metropolitan networks (called megaregions) as the population continues to grow. As a result, these regions will demand a higher volume of freight, which means greater traffic congestion, increased emissions, more frequent infrastructure maintenance, and loss of economic productivity.

Freight railroads in the United States are poised to meet increased freight demands by offering innovative transportation solutions, such as intermodal transportation with double-stacked containers on railcars. With future population and economic growth, and the subsequent growth in freight, experts anticipate that railroads will continue to make the necessary investments in the capacity required to move heavy and long-distance shipments. [13]



*[13] American Association of Railroads, “Freight Railroad Capacity and Investment,” March 2020.*

    
          Last updated: Wednesday, July 8, 2020 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

**Federal Railroad Administration**

1200 NEW JERSEY AVENUE, SE

WASHINGTON, DC 20590

202-366-4000Subscribe to email updates
                    About Us
  

        
              About FRA
                Careers
                Contact Us
                FRA Civil Rights
                Doing Business with FRA
                Grants and Financial Assistance
                Safety Management TeamsAreas of Interest
  

        
              Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
                Safety Data
                Buy America
                Operation Lifesaver
                Railroad Safety Advisory Committee
                FRA Secure Area
                Proactive DisclosureI Am A...
  

        
              Railroad Traveler
                Railroad Inspector
                Reporter
                Educator/StudentPolicies, Rights, Legal
  

        
              About DOT
                Budget and Performance
                Civil Rights
                FOIA
                Information Quality
                No FEAR Act
                Office of Inspector General
                Privacy Policy
                USA.gov
                Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
                Web Policies and Notices
                Web Standards